21st Century Learning

Respected educator and author Heidi Hayes Jacobs, has recently published a book entitled: Curriculum 21: Essential Education for a Changing World. Much of the book focuses on the 21st century learner, our changing world, the expectations of a global economy, and the changing technological landscape the our students are finding themselves in. What she adeptly argues is that generally speaking, in North America, education was set up to serve a time of Industrialization. Yes, that’s correct Industrialization, – something that was is in its prime around 100 years ago or so. One of the largest complaints from the business world to the education world is that generally speaking, the way that we educate, the structures and protocol the we set up and follow, even the curriculum that we draw from, is not preparing our students for the future, but rather for the past. Although not written from a Christian perspective (and her work on separation of secular vs. sacred flies in the face of what believe to be true), her sentiments about preparing our learners for the 21st century rings true for us as Christians.

As a Christian educator and leader in this realm, I consider this task of paramount importance. Certainly we are not proposing that we throw “the baby out with the bath water”, but we are looking to lead our kids – your kids - into the future. As Christians we should be leading this charge! We should not wait for what others do and evaluate whether or not it fits into our worldview and slowly wade into it (half-heartedly I might add). We should be bold, authentic, following God’s Biblical blue-print, and true to our mission and vision. We should be innovative, creative, and willing to walk across the bridge as we build it. This takes courage, community support, a willingness to fail, a community open to failure, and a constant leaning on our Lord as we seek His guidance in all things.

Jacobs points out 4 keys areas that don’t just need reform in our current educational paradigms but actual “new” form. These are: 1) scheduling (short term and long term), 2) groupings of students (institutionally and with instruction), 3) groupings of staff, and 4) physical space. She claims that each of one of these areas must change or be altered if we want to see a fundamental shift in our learners today. Jacobs also pointed out that any kid of shift in any one of these areas will see minimal results if it is done in a vacuum (like most things), and that the shift has to be done in all areas across the board. These are foundationally huge and if we reflect on them have monumental consequences.

I like what Jacobs is saying, and I definitely agree with her sentiments about teaching a new learner with an old paradigm. We need to be the change that we desire.

I end with questions. Where is ACS (Abbotsford Christian School) is this discussion? Curriculum? Student groupings? Staff groupings? School buildings and structure?